In Wake of El Paso Violence, President Proposes Combining Gun and Immigration Reform

Could the horrific murder spree by an alleged anti-immigrant zealot in El Paso lead to immigration reform?  It appears that the answer to this question is, oddly enough, "possibly."

CNN and Time report that President Donald Trump yesterday suggested tying immigration legislation to strengthening background checks following a weekend in which the alleged shooter in El Paso, Texas, is believed to have authored a racist, anti-immigrant document targeting Hispanics. Trump did not indicate in his tweets on Monday morning if he supported a sweeping gun control bill that passed the House with bipartisan support in February that requires universal background checks but has not been considered by the Senate.

 

We cannot let those killed in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, die in vain. Likewise for those so seriously wounded. We can never forget them, and those many who came before them. Republicans and Democrats must come together and get strong background checks, perhaps marrying....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 5, 2019

....this legislation with desperately needed immigration reform. We must have something good, if not GREAT, come out of these two tragic events!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 5, 2019

The Southern Poverty Law Center notes that shortly before the El Paso shooting took place, a four page manifesto appeared online, and was reported as belonging to the shooter. The manifesto contained white nationalist talking points on “demographic displacement,” “white genocide” and “illegal immigration,” along with references to the anti-Muslim mass shooting in New Zealand last March. The Center states that "Much of the manifesto’s language mirrors that of President Trump’s sentiments of an `immigrant invasion,' posing threats to American jobs and safety." 

KJ